BJJ star Gordon Ryan retiring? Danaher believes star pupil won’t compete again

Welcome to the BJJ Beat! On this recurring feature, we’ll tackle the biggest news from the professional grappling scene, and roll everything up in an easily digestible and familiar jiu-jitsu format.

Warm Ups

BJJ coach John Danaher leaks Gordon Ryan’s retirement?

John Danaher recently revealed his New Wave line up for the $1 million team tournament at CJI 2. Lost in the fold in that announcement, were his statements on his star pupil’s status.

While Gordon Ryan proclaimed that he would rather take a “shotgun blast to the face” than join Craig Jones’ event, Danaher revealed a little more about the BJJ star’s inactivity. He says Ryan won’t just be out for CJI 2, he might be sidelined for good.

“Gordon (Ryan) is very sick at this point,” Danaher told FloGrappling. “So I don’t believe he’ll be competing again.”

Gordon Ryan has been mostly inactive and selective of his opponents as of late. The decorated BJJ star is still just 29-years-old, but has been dealing with serious health issues for years now.

While Ryan blames his health issues on “recurring staph infections” instead of heavy PED use, he also claimed he’d willingly lose ‘20 years off of my life’ from steroids to be the BJJ GOAT.

Should he indeed retire before even turning 30, Ryan will still leave the sport as the most accomplished no gi grappler ever, and easily among the greatest competitors in BJJ history. Ryan has won six ADCC titles (plus an extra 2024 super fight), two IBJJF no gi world championships, and other pro titles with WNO and EBI.

Danaher himself also revealed that he will likely retire from coaching pro athletes due to various surgeries he needs, so if both retirements do become official, Ryan could conceivably take his place or start his own thing. Either way, Ryan has a lucrative path outside competition, with him already earning good money in BJJ instructionals, seminars and coaching.

Drills

BJJ legend Andre Galvao teases return

While Gordon Ryan is inching towards retirement, another BJJ all-time great is seemingly looking at a comeback. Andre Galvao, a winner of six ADCC titles and five IBJJF world championships, teased a return at age 42.

Galvao noted how he is “seriously thinking about competing again” and posted a poll about a comeback on his Instagram stories (HT: JitsMagazine).

Galvao is also among the best BJJ competitors of all time, winning dozens of major titles in both gi and no gi. He also has a 5-2 record in MMA, where he competed in DREAM and Strikeforce. Galvao’s last competition was just days before he turned 40, where he lost his ADCC super fight title to Gordon Ryan in 2022.

Move of the Day

Invicta FC fighter finishes rare standing anaconda choke… twice!

This happened in an MMA fight at Invicta FC 61, but watch a referee completely mess up and miss the tap. Taynara Silva not only got a rare standing anaconda choke finish, she had to repeatedly crank and finish her opponent there twice!

Rolls

PJ Barch pulls out of (still stacked) grand prix at BJJ Heroes 15

WNO 27 might be the most anticipated BJJ event this month for good reason, but BJJ Stars 15’s middleweight grand prix isn’t something to miss — despite it recently taking a hit.

The Brazil-based promotion recently announced that ADCC 2024 bronze medalist PJ Barch has pulled out of the April 26 event due to injury. Taking his slot in the GP will be his teammate Jon Thor.

Despite Barch bowing out, the grand prix — and the entire event in general — is still pretty stacked, which will feature a top pound-for-pound grappler Mica Galvao, along with other big names and BJJ champs like Jonnatas Gracie, Oliver Taza, and Elijah Dorsey. Other super-fights on the card involve two-time ADCC champion Diogo Reis, and decorated IBJJF champions such as Gabi Pessanha, Adam Wardzinski and Erich Munis.

BJJ Stars 15 Fight Card

April 26, 2025

Middleweight GP:

Mica Galvao
Jonnatas Gracie
Gabriel Almeida
Isaque Bahiense
Oliver Taza
Elijah Dorsey
Izaak Michell
Jon Thor

Super fights:

Diogo Reis vs. Meyram Maquine
Gabi Pessanha vs. Tayane Porfirio
Adam Wardzinski vs. Erich Munis
Leonardo Ferreira vs. Hygor Brito

Cooldown

Mica Galvao joins Brazilian Army

Speaking of Mica Galvao, the BJJ prodigy certainly wants to do a lot of things. Despite already being one of the top pound-for-pound jiu-jitsu stars today, the 21 year old phenom has also spoken about wanting to compete in MMA and even try his hand at Olympic wrestling.

More recently, “Seargent” Mica Galvao also announced that he has joined the Brazilian Army.

“I did not enter for the money. I entered for a mission,” Galvao wrote in Portuguese. “I have always represented Brazil on the mats. Now, I also represent it in uniform.

“From now on, whenever my competitive calendar allows, I will make myself available to participate in the real missions that the Army carries out with excellence — whether supporting communities, solidarity missions or wherever the Brazilian people need it,” he continued.

“I want to do more. To truly serve,” Galvao stated. “Because Brazil is my team. And now, it is also my mission.”

This decision isn’t completely surprising, as Galvao has always expressed patriotism and love for his country. While many Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champions from the region moved to the US for better paydays and opportunities, Mica and his father Melqui Galvao have stayed and kept their gym in Brazil.

In 2024, Galvao achieved a rare distinction of a “Super Grand Slam Winner,” as he won all four major IBJJF competitions in the gi, along with an ADCC world championship.

Review

To close things out, here are other interesting BJJ stories you might have missed:

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